Ruling-pen.



Patented Sept. 26, |899.

A. G. RAYCRAFT.

R U L l N G P E N.

Application tiled. July 27, 1898.)

( 'No Model.)A

l wel@ omey NVENT R IINTTED STATES PATENT EET-SCE,

ARTHUR G. RAYCRAFT, OF CARSON, NEVADA.

RULlNG-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,660, dated September 26, 1899. Application iled July 27, 1898'. Serial No. 686,996. (No model.)

To tZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. RAYCRAFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carson City, in the county of Ormsby and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ruling-Pens; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art' to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in ruling-pens such as are commonly used by draftsmen, and has for its objects to secure a pen in which the points may be quickly and easily adjusted to form lines of any desired width, in which the inking part will yield a steady supply of inl; to the pen-points, in which the ink may be changed from one color to another without cleaning the entire pen, and in which other advantages of construction and operation will be obtained in a simple, effective, and economical manner.

In carrying out my invention I employ means and devices which will be hereinafter described in detail and which are fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, in which- Figure l represents, partly in section, my invention complete. Fig. 2 represents the same in a different position, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the ink-feeding device.

Like reference-nu merals indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l represents a metal cylinder of convenient size, which forms the body or handle of my improved ruling-pen. The ends of the cylinder are open, as at la and lb, the former being at the handle or upper end and the latter at the lower or writing end of the instrument. The lower part of the cylinder is made tapering on opposite sides, as at lc and l, and the other opposite sides are attened to form shoulders 2, as shown in Fig. 2. In these shoulders are pivoted the pen blades or points 3 3, the lower or ruling portion of which is formed in the usual manner with devices of this character; but the upper or pivoted portions are rounded and provided with peripheral cogs 3*. Below the cogged portion of the blades they are formed with a lug or shoulder 3C, the opposing faces of which are slightly curved and slant from the pivotal point inwardly and conform to the contiguous faces of the wedge or arrow-head shaped lug 10b, to be described.

Rigidly secured to the shoulders 2 are round wires or rods 4, which extend downwardly between the blades 3 3 and are bent inwardly, so as to lie closely together and overlap eachother. Fitting snugly but removably over the wires or rods 4 are the ink retaining and delivering points 5, which are formed from thin metal strips, pointed and bent at their upper ends to forni sockets for the wires. These points are of proper length to be normally in contact with the inner faces or sides of the blades 3 3a, so that the ink on said points 5 will be delivered by gravity to said blades in a well-known manner. The tubular forni of said points enables them to hold a considerable supply of ink, which will be gradually fed to the blades or ruling points.

Extending longitudinally through the cylinder l is a solid rod or shaft 6, to the upper end of which is secured a button or thumbscrew C, having a roughened or serrated periphery. Rigidly secured to or formed with the button 6"L is a sleeve or cap 6b, which fit-sloosely over the cylinder 1 and serves as a guide and support for said button. Secured to the shaft 6 is an annular washer 7, which slides loosely within the cylinder when the shaft is moved longitudinally, and an annular shoulder 7, formed on the inside of the cylinder l, limits the longitudinal movement of the washer 7 in the direction of said shoulder. The washer 7 forms a stop or an abutment for the upper end of a spiral spring 8, which surrounds the shaft for a portion of its length, and the opposite end of said spring impinges against the annular shoulder 9, which is formed on the inside of the cylinder l.

The lower end of the shaft 6 is threaded and enters the internally-threaded portion of a collar 10, which fits within the cylinder and -is provided with cogs l0, which mesh with the cogs 3b of the pen-blades 3 3a, as shown in Figs. l and 2. To the threaded end of the shaft 6 is secured an internally-threaded arrow-head Aor wedge-shaped lug 10b, against the tapering sides of which rest the lugs 3G when the pen-points are closed. It will be apparent that the downward movement of the lug 10b will force outwardly the lugs 3, and thus cause the blades to turn on their pivotal point until they reach the position shown in Fig. 2, if desired. A very slight downward movement will b e sufficient to separate the pen-points to form a wide line. Surrounding the threaded end of the rod or shaft (5 is a small nut 10C, which abuts against the end of the collar 10 upon the upward movement of the shaft, as shown in Fig. l.

In the foregoing I have described the preferred manner of constructing my improved pen; but I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction shown, as it is apparent that various modifications may be made in the shape and arrangement of parts and some may be omitted without departing from the principles embodied in said invention.

In the operation of my ruling-pen a down ward pressure on the button 6a imparts a longitudinal movement to the shaft G, which is thereby communicated to the collar'lO,which by the action of the teeth or cogs IO meshing with the teeth or cogs 3b on the rounded ends of the blades 3 3 revolves the latter pivotally, as shown in Fig. 2. The points 5 are then lled with ink, and by releasing the pressure on the button 6 the blades 3 3 are returned to their normal position by the action of the spring 8, which was compressed by said pressure, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. If it be desired to separate the points or blades 3 3 to make a wide line, the button 6L should be turned instead of pressed downwardly. The turning will revolve the shaft 6, so that its threaded end will be pushed along in the collar IO and against the lug or wedge 10b, which by pressing against the contiguous sides of the lugs 3c will force them outwardly, and thus separate the points to the .extent desired.

As the points 5 5n are removably placed over the wires 4l, other points carrying ink of a dierent color may be readily substituted therefor, thus avoiding the necessity of wasting the ink or entirely cleaning the pen every time it is desired to change the color of the ink.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a ruling-pen, the combination with a suitable handle, of ruling-pen points or blades pivoted to the handle and adapted to be adjusted by a shaft in said handle, removable ink-feeding points contacting with the penpoints, and a shaft centrally located in said handle and engaging the inner end yof said pen-points, said shaft having rotating and' lset forth.

3. In aruling-pen or like device, the combination with a suitable handle, of adjustable pen points or blades pivoted to said handle, ink-feeding points contacting with the penpoints, and a shaft located within the handle, engaging the inner end of the pen-points and adapted by its longitudinal and rotatory movements to adjust said pen-points, subst-antially as set forth.

4t. In a ruling-pen, the combination with a suitable handle, of adjustable pen points or blades pivoted thereto and having cogged portions, and a shaft located within the handle and provided with cogs meshing with the cogs on the'blades, for the purpose and substantially'in the manner described.

5. In a ruling-pen, the combination with a suitablehandle, of adjustable points or blades pivoted thereto and having cogged portions, a shaft located within the handle and pro: vided with cogs meshing with the cogs on the blades,and also provided with a Wedgeshaped lug, substantially as described.

6. In a ruling-pen or the like device, the combination with a suitable handle, of adjustable pen points or blades pivoted to the handle and having cogged portions, ink-feeding points, a shaft located within the handle havingacogged portion meshing with the like cogged portions of the pen-points and adapted by its longitudinal and rotatory movements to separate said points or blades, and a spring surrounding said shaft and adapted to normally close or bring together said points or blades, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR G. RAY CRAFT.

lVitnesses:

W. C. No'rEwAi-zn, H. HARRIS.

IOO 

